'Half The City Is Burning': Hamburg Rocked By Violent, Anti-G-20 Protests

Demonstrators smashed shop windows, torched cars and set fires in the streets.

As G-20 leaders gathered at the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, Germany for a live performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony on Friday evening, police moved to disperse thousands of protesters during a second day of violent clashes.

The rallies have resulted in the injury of nearly 200 officers ― some of whom were reportedly attacked with metal bars ― and led to more than 80 arrests so far, according to Hamburg authorities, who requested reinforcement to support the tens of thousands of police workers already on duty. Dressed in riot gear, they deployed water cannons, smoke grenades, tear gas and armored vehicles to quash the protests.

Pool via Getty Images
G-20 members attend a concert at the Elbphilharmonie philharmonic concert hall in Hamburg, Germany, as violent protests erupt in the streets.

Under the motto “Welcome To Hell,” far-left demonstrators protested against global capitalism and the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is attending the summit, as well as the lack of global initiative on climate change.

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U.S. first lady Melania Trump was also denied police clearance to partake in a tour of Hamburg as tensions escalated on Friday.

“Half the city is burning,” HuffPost Germany journalist Maximilian Marquardt said during a Facebook Live report from the scene in Schanzenviertel, a district nearby. “I think the worst is still to come,” he added, standing in front of flames in the street. Police have since urged people to leave the area.

“The situation here is getting very, very tense. People are building street barriers in order to stop the police,” Marquardt said, before he was hit by tear gas.

Earlier in the day, a 70-year-old woman told HuffPost Germany she had hoped Friday would be calmer, following Thursday’s clashes.

“I never experienced something like this,” she said.

“It is very difficult for the police, because we stand between politicians and protesters,” a policeman told HuffPost. “We cannot please both of them.”

Take a look at some of the photos from Friday below.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

A demonstrator throws a firework against police units during an demonstration against the G-20 Summit on July 7, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany.

MARKUS SCHOLZ via Getty Images

Protesters set barricades on fire.

Leon Neal via Getty Images

A woman covers her face as a fire burns.

Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters

A protester holds a wooden plank.

Michele Tantussi via Getty Images

An anti-G-20 Summit protester lies on the ground as riot policemen charge during the clashes.

NurPhoto via Getty Images

An injured police officer is carried away.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

Police put a crush barrier away.

Hannibal Hanschke / Reuters

A fire burns in front of a shop.

DAVID YOUNG via Getty Images

Demonstrators are hit by water cannons.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

An anti-G-20 Summit demonstrator runs away from a police water cannon.

BORIS ROESSLER via Getty Images

Policemen shoot pepper spray on a demonstrator who has climbed onto an armored vehicle.

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Policeman use pepper spray on protesters.

ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images

Riot police chase protesters.

STEFFI LOOS via Getty Images

Protesters light flares.

Alexander Koerner via Getty Images

Police use water cannons on protesters.

CHRISTOF STACHE via Getty Images

Policemen lead away a demonstrator dressed as a clown.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

Police use water cannons against protesters.

Leon Neal via Getty Images

A black cloud moves through the air as demonstrators walk in the street while a fire burns in town.

HuffPost Germany’s Leonhard Landes contributed reporting.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

A demonstrator throws a firework against police units during an demonstration against the G-20 Summit on July 7, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany.

MARKUS SCHOLZ via Getty Images

Protesters set barricades on fire.

Leon Neal via Getty Images

A woman covers her face as a fire burns.

Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters

A protester holds a wooden plank.

Michele Tantussi via Getty Images

An anti-G-20 Summit protester lies on the ground as riot policemen charge during the clashes.

NurPhoto via Getty Images

An injured police officer is carried away.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

Police put a crush barrier away.

Hannibal Hanschke / Reuters

A fire burns in front of a shop.

DAVID YOUNG via Getty Images

Demonstrators are hit by water cannons.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

An anti-G-20 Summit demonstrator runs away from a police water cannon.

BORIS ROESSLER via Getty Images

Policemen shoot pepper spray on a demonstrator who has climbed onto an armored vehicle.

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Policeman use pepper spray on protesters.

ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images

Riot police chase protesters.

STEFFI LOOS via Getty Images

Protesters light flares.

Alexander Koerner via Getty Images

Police use water cannons on protesters.

CHRISTOF STACHE via Getty Images

Policemen lead away a demonstrator dressed as a clown.

Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images

Police use water cannons against protesters.

Leon Neal via Getty Images

A black cloud moves through the air as demonstrators walk in the street while a fire burns in town.